Tool for closing bags and the like



May 19, 1959 B. l. DAVIS TOOL FOR CLOSING BAGS AND THE LIKE Filed May 6,1958 IILIIIIIIII .III wlllflmllng .uqnnuny IIII I IIIIIIII III-I IIIIIIIII INVENTOR. BENJAMIN DAlV/S Nun 2,886,932 Patented May 19, 1959TOOL FOR CLOSING BAGS AND THE LIKE Benjamin 1. Davis, Ellendale, Tenn.

Application May 6, 1958, Serial No. 733,390

Claims. (Cl. 53-285) This invention relates to a tool adapted for use inclosing bags and the like. More specifically, it relates to a tool forplacing a band around the neck of a bag and the like.

This invention is particularly useful in placing a resilient band ofrubber or the like around the neck of the wellknown plastic type of bagsused in deep freezers and refrigerators. The present practice is to foldthe neck of the bags and then secure by hand a rubber band around theneck thereof. As is well known to those who have tried placing rubberbands on the necks of these bags, it is a tedious and tiresomeprocess-particularly, if the bag is nearly full, which makes the neckshort and leaves very little room in which to work. After placing rubberbands on several of these bags, ones fingers become extremely tired,which makes the operation much more difficult.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide aconvenient tool for placing bands on the necks of bags and the like.

A further object is to provide such a tool which is simple inconstruction but highly efiicient.

A further object is to provide in such a tool means for, first, foldingthe neck of the bag over and thence tightly placing a rubber band overthe folded neck.

A further object is to provide such a tool comprising an outer barrel,an inner barrel slidably received in said outer barrel and having aportion extending forwardly beyond the forward end of said outer barrelfor the reception of a rubber band thereon, plunger means slidablyreceived in said inner barrel and including a hook extending outwardlybeyond the forward end of said inner barrel for the reception of theneck of a bag, and an actuating arm for operating the tool to draw theneck of the bag into said inner barrel and thence to contact and slidesaid inner barrel rearwardly into a retracted position in said outerbarrel whereby being effective to cause said outer barrel to push therubber band off said inner barrel onto the neck of the bag.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction oftools for closing bags and the like.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the presentinvention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment willbe readily understood from the following specification upon reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the tool of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectionalized view of the tool taken as along avertical plane through the longitudinal center line thereof andillustrating the tool ready for closing the neck of a bag, with afragmentary portion only of the bag being shown.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the neck of the bag afterbeing drawn into the inner barrel in an intermediate step in theoperation of the device.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 and showing the completion ofthe closure operation after the rubber band has been pushed off onto theneck of the bag.

Referring, now, to the drawings in which the various parts are indicatedby numerals, the tool 11 of the present invention includes an outerbarrel 13 having a bore 15 extending axially thereof, which bore isclosed at one end and open at the other. For purposes of clarity, theend of tool 11 adjacent the opening of bore 15, i.e., the end of thetool to the left as viewed in the figures, will hereinafter bedesignated the forward end; and the end of the tool to the right asviewed in the figures will be designated the rearward end. A butt 17 ofthe tool is provided adjacent the rearward end of barrel 13, which buttis preferably disposed perpendicular to the axis of barrel 13 and isadapted to be received in the palm of ones hand when operating thedevice, as will be hereinafter explained.

An inner barrel 19 is slidably received in close adjacency to outerbarrel 13 in the bore thereof for movement between a forward or extendeddisposition best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and a rearward or retracteddisposition best shown in Fig. 4. When in said extended disposition, aportion of the inner barrel, as at 21, extends forwardly past theforward end of outer barrel 13 in an exposed disposition whereby beingadapted. to receive a rubber band 23 wrapped therearound, as best seenin Figs. 2 and 3. It will be understood that rubber band 23 seen inthese figures has been looped several times around portion 21, whichaccounts for the several cross-sectional portions thereof appearing inthese figures. When in said retracted disposition, inner barrel 19 isdisposed inside of outer barrel 13, as best seen in Fig. 4. Inner barrel19 is provided with a bore 25 which opens adjacent the forward end ofthe inner barrel and is closed adjacent the rearward end thereof as byan end piece 27 having a hole 29 therein through which extends a screw31, which screw is threadedly engaged in butt 17. A spring 33 isdisposed in bore 15 around screw 31 and extends between end piece 27 andbutt 17 to urge inner barrel 19 towards said extended disposition withthe inner barrel being stopped in said extended disposition whenendpiece 27 abuts the head 35 of screw 31.

An elongated plunger 37 is slidably received in the bore 25 of innerbarrel 19 for movement between a forward or extended disposition bestshown in Fig. 2 and a rearward or retracted disposition best shown inFigs. 3 and 4. A hook 39 is fixedly mounted on plunger 37 adjacent theforward end thereof and extends forwardly therefrom. In said extendeddisposition of plunger 37, hook 39 is in a position exterior of innerbarrel 19, i.e., an exposed position, so as to be adapted to be hookedaround the neck of a bag, as best shown in Fig. 2. When plunger 37 is insaid retracted disposition, book 39 is disposed inside of inner barrel19.

Actuating means is provided for operating the device, which actuatingmeans preferably comprises a rod 41 fixedly mounted in a vertical boreextending through plunger 37 with rod 41 extending upwardly anddownwardly from the plunger.

Outer barrel 13 is provided with an upper slot 43 ex tending through theWall of the outer barrel along a portion of the length thereof andadjacent the upper side thereof. Similarly, a lower slot 45 extendsthrough the wall of outer barrel 13 along a portion of the lengththereof and adjacent the lower side of the barrel. In a similar manner,inner barrel 19 is provided with an upper slot 47 and a lower slot 49.Slots 43, 45, 47, and 49 are preferably in vertical alignment with oneanother. The upper portion of rod 41 extends upwardly through upperslots 43, 47 and therebeyond, and the lower portion of.

rod 41 extends downwardly through lower slots 45, 49

and therebeyond. It will be understood that this disposi tion of rod 41makes it possible for the user to place butt 3 same hand respectivelypositioned around the upper and lower parts of rod 41 for the actuationthereof. Slots 47, 49 are preferably shorter in length than slots 43, 45and are arranged in barrels 13, 19 so that the rearward ends of slots47, 49 are positioned forwardly of the rearward ends of slots 43, 45when the tool is in the position ready for use, shown in Pig. 2.

Tool 11 is used in the following manner: With inner barrel 19 disposedin said extended disposition, a rubber band 23 is looped around portion21. This may be done with plunger 37 in either the extended or retracteddisposition, but it will be understood that it is, easier to place therubber band around portion 21 with the plunger retracted. Thisretraction may be accomplished by moving rod 41 rearwardly until it isengaged with the rearward end of slots 47, 49. After the rubber band isplaced on portion 21 as above described, plunger 37 is extended bymoving rod 41 forwardly and then hook39 is hooked around the neck 5.1 ofa bag 53 as best shown in Fig. 2, which neck is preferably twisted. Withtool 11 held as previously described with the fingers on rod 41 and butt17 in the palm of the hand, rod 41 is pulled rearwardly, whereupon hook359 pulls the neck of the bag into inner barrel 1 .9 in a foldeddisposition as best shown in Fig. 3. In this position it will be seenrod 41 has contacted inner barrel 19 adjacent the rearward end of slots47, 49. Continued rearward movement of rod 41 urges the inner barrel andplunger 37 rearwardly together whereupon the forward end of outer barrel13 pushes rubber band 23 oif onto the neck of the bag, as best shown inFig. 4. Plunger 37 may then be extended so as to remove hook 39 from thebag.

It will be understood that hook 39 may be omitted without departing fromtne spirit and scope of the present invention. In other words, thefolding operation may be accomplished by hand and the folded neckstuffed into the bore of inner barrel 19 for subsequent placing of therubber band thereon in accordance with the previously describedoperation. However, by including hook 39, a much more convenient andefficient device is provided.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that tool 11 of thepresent invention is a very handy and useful device, whereby bands maybe placed on the neck of bags very quickly and easily. Furthermore, whenthe bags are almost full, the present tool can be used to accomplishthis closure whereas many times it would be practically impossible byhand due to the short neck of the bag.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respectto a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is notto be so limited since changes and modifications may be made thereinwhich are within the full intended scope of this invention ashereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A tool for placing a band around the neck of a bag and the likecomprising an outer barrel having rearward and forward ends, an innerbarrel slidably received in said outer barrel and having a portionextending forward- 1y beyond the forward end of said outer barrel forthe reception of a band thereon, plunger means slidably received in saidinner barrel and including a hook extending forwardly beyond the forwardend of said inner barrel for the reception of the neck of a bag, anactuating arm mounted on said plunger and extending outwardly therefrom,each of said inner and outer barrels being provided with a slot, saidactuating arm extending through, the slots in said inner and outerbarrels, said actuating arm being disposed in a forward disposition andbeing movable rear wardly first to slide said plunger means rearwardlyfor drawing the neck of the bag into said inner barrel in a foldeddisposition and thence to contact and slide said inner barrel rearwardlyinto a retracted disposition in said outer barrel whereby beingeffective to cause said outer assaaaa barrel to push the band off ofsaid inner barrel onto the neck of the bag.

2. A tool for placing a band around the neck of a bag and the likecomprising an outer barrel having rearward and forward ends, an innerbarrel slidably received in said outer barrel and having a portionextending forwardly beyond the forward end of said outer barrel for thereception of a band thereon, plunger means slidably received in saidinner barrel and including a hook extending forwardly beyond the forwardend of said inner barrel for the reception of the neck of a bag,actuating means for actuating said plunger and said inner barrel, saidactuating means being effective first to slide said plunger meansrearwardly for drawing the neck of the bag into said inner barrel in afolded disposition and thence to contact and slide said inner barrelrearwardly into a retracted disposition in said outer barrel wherebycausing said outer barrel to push the band off of said inner barrel ontothe neck of the bag.

3. A tool for placing. a band around the neck of a bag and the likecomprising an outer barrel having rearward and forward ends, an innerbarrel slidably received in said outer barrel and having a portionextending forwardly beyond the forward end of said outer barrel for thereception of a band thereon, said inner barrel being provided with abore opening adjacent the forward end of the inner barrel for thereception of the neck of a bag, actuating means for actuating said innerbarrel to slide said inner barrel rearwardly into a retracteddisposition in said outer barrel, when in said retracted dispositionsaid inner barrel being positioned with the forward portion thereofbeing substantially entirely within said outer barrel whereby causingsaid outer barrel to push the band off of said inner barrel onto theneck of the bag when said inner barrel is caused to slide rearwardlyinto said retracted disposition.

4. A tool for placing a band around the neck of a bag and the likecomprising an outer barrel having rearward and forward ends, an innerbarrel slidably received in said outer barrel and having a portionextending forwardly beyond the forward end of said outer barrel for thereception of a band thereon, said inner barrel being provided with abore opening adjacent the forward end of the inner barrel, plunger meansslidably received in said inner barrel, an actuating arm mounted on saidplunger and extending outwardly therefrom, each of said inner and outerbarrels being provided with a slot, said actuating arm extending throughthe slots in said inner and outer barrels, said actuating arm beingdisposed in a forward disposition and being movable rearwardly first toslide said plunger means rearwardly for providing room for inserting theneck of the bag into the bore of said inner barrel and thence to contactand slide said inner barrel rearwardly into a retracted disposition insaid outer barrel whereby being effective to cause said outer barrel topush the band off of said inner barrel onto the neck of the bag.

5. A tool for placing a band around the neck of a bag and the likecomprising an outer barrel having rearward and forward ends, a buttprovided adjacent the rearward end of said outer barrel for resting inthe palm of a persons hand when using the tool, an inner barrel slidablyreceived in said outer barrel for movement between a forward dispositionand a rearward disposition, means for urging said inner barrel into saidforward disposition, when in said forward disposition said inner barrelextending forwardly beyond the forward end of said outer barrel toprovide an exposed portion for the reception of a band therearound, whenin said rearward disposition said inner barrel being retracted in saidouter barrel,plunger means including a hook adjacent the forward endthereof, said plunger means being slidably received in said inner barrelfor movement between a forward disposition and'a rearward disposition,when in said forward disposition said plunger being disposed with saidhook extending forwardly from said inner barrel for the reception of theneck of a bag in the hook, when in said rearward disposition saidplunger being disposed with said hook retracted in said inner barrel, anactuating arm mounted on said plunger and extending outwardly therefromin opposite directions, each of said inner and outer barrels beingprovided with a pair of slots adjacent the upper and lower sides thereofand in vertical alignment with one another, the pair of slots in saidouter barrel being longer than the pair of slots in said inner barreland terminating rearwardly of the pair of slots in said inner barrel,said actuating arm extending through the pairs of slots in said innerand outer barrels and outwardly in opposite directions beyond said outerbarrel for engagement by the fingers of a person using the tool 16 6whereby being adapted to be drawn rearwardly towards said butt to carrysaid plunger rearwardly therewith, rearward movement of said actuatingarm from a position in which said plunger is in said forward dispositionbeing efiective first to draw the neck of the bag into said inner barrelin a folded disposition and thence to contact and slide said innerbarrel rearwardly into the rearward disposition thereof whereby beingeffective to cause said outer barrel to push the band off of said 10inner barrel onto the neck of the bag.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,169,775 Cornwall Feb. 1, 1916

